After InterBattery in March, the strategic focus of South Korea's battery industry has been expanding from high-nickel EV batteries to ESS, LFP, AI data centers, and safety. Battery-related conferences in April also indicated that AI-driven R&D, LFP process innovation, next-generation batteries for diverse application scenarios, and improvements in safety and reliability are becoming major directions. This means the standard for "high-end" is expanding from energy density to system reliability, operational stability, supply chain transparency, and AI-driven management capabilities.

Since InterBattery in March, Korea’s battery industry has been expanding its focus from high-nickel EV batteries to ESS, LFP, AI data centers, and safety. Battery-related conferences held in April also highlighted AI-enabled R&D, LFP process innovation, application-specific next-generation batteries, and stronger safety and reliability. This suggests that the definition of premium is expanding from energy density to system reliability, operational stability, and supply chain transparency.

On April 16, SEVB held its inaugural Technology Day, officially launching the **"Xin Na Qing" sodium-ion battery full-scenario solution**, covering two core fields—vehicle power and power grid energy storage—while simultaneously unveiling its AI + battery strategy. The event featured the release of a 388Ah large-capacity sodium-ion battery cell dedicated to energy storage, with a cycle life exceeding 20,000 cycles (70% capacity retention), a low-temperature discharge capacity retention rate exceeding 85% at -40°C, and room-temperature energy efficiency 7% higher than LFP batteries. A 54Ah high-C-rate sodium-ion battery cell supporting 12C discharge was also introduced, suitable for large power frequency regulation scenarios. In the vehicle sector, a low-temperature power sodium-ion battery cell was launched, featuring an energy density of 180Wh/kg and usable capacity exceeding 80% at -40°C.

According to industry sources on April 17, WCP will supply separators for LFP batteries used in ESS systems to be produced by Samsung SDI in the United States. The company is already supplying separators for NCA-based ESS batteries. WCP began supplying separators in October last year to the ESS production line of StarPlus Energy, a joint venture between Samsung SDI and Stellantis. Currently, one NCA-based ESS line is in operation. With two additional LFP lines set to be gradually ramped up starting in October this year, separator supply volumes are expected to increase further.

According to Farasis Energy on March 19, the company recently formally signed a supply contract with a large overseas NEV manufacturer. Under the contract, starting from June this year, Farasis Energy will begin supplying SPS LFP batteries to the overseas client, and all parties to the contract reached agreement on procurement prices, delivery arrangements, and other matters.

March 17, Tesla (TSLA) and South Korean battery giant LG Energy (850101) formally confirmed that they would jointly build an LFP battery (884309) plant in Lansing, Michigan, with an investment of $4.3 billion, to support the rapid expansion of Tesla’s (TSLA) energy storage (885921) system business. The US Department of the Interior formally confirmed the deal in a statement. Under the agreement, LG Energy (850101) will produce prismatic LFP batteries (884309) at its plant in Lansing, Michigan, US, and supply them for Tesla’s (TSLA) Megapack 3 energy storage (885921) systems. The Lansing plant is expected to begin operations in 2027. The move is intended to establish a domestic US battery supply chain and address the surge in electricity (562350) demand driven by AI (885728) data centers.

Ouyang Minggao pointed out that large-scale mass production of all-solid-state batteries will still require 3–5 years, with test vehicles expected to appear by the end of 2026. Sulphide electrolyte has fallen from 20 million/mt to the million-level range. However, he stressed that the technical difficulty is extremely high and advised consumers that they “need not wait,” as LFP batteries remain the “ballast stone” at present.

Recently, the Gushanliang 300 MW/1,200 MWh Grid-Forming Hybrid Energy Storage Power Station in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, successfully completed the full-process testing and acceptance of "three charges and three discharges" and officially began grid-connected operation. This station is the only grid-forming project within the local planned total capacity of 3 GW/12.8 GWh energy storage station cluster. It adopts a hybrid energy storage solution combining LFP batteries and all-vanadium flow batteries, efficiently coupled with grid-forming technology, while integrating an AI smart operation system. As a key support period for the Inner Mongolia power grid, the station will provide critical support for regional power stability, helping to enhance new energy integration capacity and grid operation resilience.

This week (February 27, 2026–March 5), more players entered the solid-state battery industry, with various parties “riding” the hype: Sunstone Development and TONZE stated that their sulphide projects were still in the early R&D stage; QingTao’s Wuhai 2 billion yuan project released its EIA public notice, and a 3.5 GWh production line in Taizhou commenced operations; Suzuki acquired Kanadevia’s solid-state battery business

Recently, the "Shandong High-speed Weihai 200MW/400MWh Shared ESS Power Station Project", invested and constructed by the Energy Investment Group, was successfully energized at one go, marking the official grid connection operation of the power station. The project has a total investment of approximately 400 million yuan, covers an area of about 50 mu, and has a total installed capacity of 200MW/400MWh. It adopts a hybrid ESS technology of "LFP battery + sodium-ion battery", consisting of 39 sets of 5MW/10MWh LFP batteries and 2 sets of 2.6MW/5.2MWh sodium-ion batteries. Connected to the Shandong power grid at a voltage level of 220kV, it fully leverages the advantages of both technologies, effectively enhancing the power grid's peak shaving and valley filling capabilities as well as the comprehensive utilization rate of new energy.